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As much as possible, TERN AusCover cal/val sites are co-located with field sites of other TERN facilities such as OzFlux, SuperSites and AusPlots. The AusCover cal/val sites are generally homogenous in terms of vegetation composition and structural characteristics. AusCover promotes a set of nationally agreed and developed field data collection protocols relevant to remote sensing cal/val and other structural and biophysical activities, see TERN AusCover Good Practice Guidelines.

TERN AusCover also hosts suitable field data collected by other organisations.

Mangrove monitoring - collection of data, Mangrove monitoring sites

Collection of derived and quality assessed data files for the mangrove monitoring system for Australia. These data are used to assess historical and current mangrove dieback and health.

Australian Ground Cover Reference Sites Database - ABARES

The ground cover reference sites database includes site descriptions and field measurements of the different cover fractions at sites across Australia. The data were collected by government agencies in all states and the Northern Territory as part of the ‘Ground cover monitoring for Australia’ project.

Hemispherical photography

Hemispherical photography can be used to estimate the leaf area index (LAI) and provides structural measurements that can be used for cal/val of LiDAR derived products. This dataset includes raw imagery and ancillary data.

SLATS Star transects

Each plot consists of three transects laid out in a star shape, with 100 observations along each (300 observations in total). Transect measurements include a densitometer for measuring woody vegetation, a laser pointer for measuring the ground cover and low woody vegetation and basel measurements.

Single trees were extracted from the TLS data and quantitative structure models were used to estimate the tree volume directly from the point cloud data. Above-ground biomass was inferred from the derived volumes and basic wood density information.

Download our ‘Good Practice Guidelines’

TERN AusCover supports a nationally consistent approach to the calibration, validation, and delivery of earth observation data products. To ensure that earth observation data is useful to a wide range of users, the collection and delivery of this data needs to be accurate, precise, and use reproducible methods. To support the earth observation community in achieving a high quality and consistent approach nationwide, we’ve developed our ‘Good Practice Guidelines’ that provide advice on calibrating and validating earth observation data.
The Guidelines are provided as a free and accessible tool to anyone working in earth observation. They are also intended to be a dynamic resource that will be updated over time as new knowledge and best-practice processes emerge. Please contact us if you have feedback or questions.
The Guidelines draw upon the knowledge and experience of our national expert network, and also internationally agreed protocols and standards. We are grateful to the external and international reviewers who refined the Guidelines prior to their release.